--- kind: "section" citation: "34 U.S.C. § 50313" title: "34" title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement" number: "50313" heading: "Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board" release: "119-102" date: "2026-07-12" url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/50313" units: - "Subtitle V — Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Personnel" - "Chapter 503 — Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery" - "Subchapter I — Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery" --- # §50313. Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board - (a) **Establishment—** There is established within the Department of Justice a Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery Board. - (b) **Duties—** The [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) shall do the following: - (1) Design the [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4) with appropriate ribbons and appurtenances. - (2) Select an engraver to produce each [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4). - (3) Recommend recipients of the [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4) from among those nominations timely submitted to the [Office](/usc/34/50301.md?p=6). - (4) Annually present to the Attorney General the names of [Federal law enforcement officers](/usc/34/50301.md?p=5) who the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) recommends as [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4) recipients in accordance with the criteria described in [section 50312(a) of this title](/usc/34/50312.md?p=a). - (5) After approval by the Attorney General— - (A) procure the [Federal Law Enforcement Badges](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4) from the engraver selected under [paragraph (2)](#b-2); - (B) send a letter announcing the award of each [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4) to the [Federal agency head](/usc/34/50301.md?p=1) who nominated the recipient of such [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4); - (C) send a letter to each Member of Congress representing the congressional district where the recipient of each [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4) resides to offer such Member an opportunity to present such [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4); and - (D) make or facilitate arrangements for presenting each [Federal Law Enforcement Badge](/usc/34/50301.md?p=4) in accordance with [section 50314 of this title](/usc/34/50314.md). - (6) Set an annual timetable for fulfilling the duties described in this subsection. - (c) **Membership—** - (1) **Number and appointment—** The [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) shall be composed of 7 members appointed as follows: - (A) One member jointly appointed by the majority leader and minority leader of the Senate. - (B) One member jointly appointed by the Speaker and minority leader of the House of Representatives. - (C) One member from the Department of Justice appointed by the Attorney General. - (D) Two members of the [Federal Law Enforcement Officers](/usc/34/50301.md?p=5) Association appointed by the Executive Board of the [Federal Law Enforcement Officers](/usc/34/50301.md?p=5) Association. - (E) Two members of the Fraternal Order of Police appointed by the Executive Board of the Fraternal Order of Police. - (2) **Limitation—** Not more than— - (A) 2 [Federal Board members](/usc/34/50301.md?p=3) may be members of the [Federal Law Enforcement Officers](/usc/34/50301.md?p=5) Association; and - (B) 2 [Federal Board members](/usc/34/50301.md?p=3) may be members of the Fraternal Order of Police. - (3) **Qualifications—** [Federal Board members](/usc/34/50301.md?p=3) shall be individuals with knowledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, in the field of Federal law enforcement. - (4) **Terms and vacancies—** Each [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) member shall be appointed for 2 years and may be reappointed. A vacancy in the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) shall not affect the powers of the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. - (d) **Operations—** - (1) **Chairperson—** The Chairperson of the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) shall be a [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) member elected by a majority of the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2). - (2) **Meetings—** The [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) shall conduct its first meeting not later than 90 days after the appointment of a majority of [Federal Board members](/usc/34/50301.md?p=3). Thereafter, the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, or in the case of a vacancy of the position of Chairperson, at the call of the Attorney General. - (3) **Voting and rules—** A majority of [Federal Board members](/usc/34/50301.md?p=3) shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) may establish a lesser quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2). The [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) may establish by majority vote any other rules for the conduct of the business of the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2), if such rules are not inconsistent with this subchapter or other applicable law. - (e) **Powers—** - (1) **Hearings—** - (A) **In general—** The [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) may hold hearings, sit and act at times and places, take testimony, and receive evidence as the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) considers appropriate to carry out the duties of the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) under this subchapter. The [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it. - (B) **Witness expenses—** Witnesses requested to appear before the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) may be paid the same fees as are paid to witnesses under [section 1821 of title 28](/usc/28/1821.md). The per diem and mileage allowances for witnesses shall be paid from funds appropriated to the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2). - (2) **Information from Federal agencies—** Subject to sections [552](/usc/5/552.md), [552a](/usc/5/552a.md), and [552b](/usc/5/552b.md) of title 5— - (A) the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) may secure directly from any Federal department or agency information necessary to enable it to carry out this subchapter; and - (B) upon request of the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2), the head of that department or agency shall furnish the information to the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2). - (3) **Information to be kept confidential—** The [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) shall not disclose any information which may compromise an ongoing law enforcement investigation or is otherwise required by law to be kept confidential. - (f) **Compensation—** - (1) **In general—** Except as provided in [paragraph (2)](#f-2), each [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) member shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under [section 5315 of title 5](/usc/5/5315.md) for each day (including travel time) during which such [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2). - (2) **Prohibition of compensation for government employees—** [Federal Board members](/usc/34/50301.md?p=3) who serve as officers or employees of the Federal Government or a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) or a local government may not receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on the [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2). - (3) **Travel expenses—** Each [Federal Board](/usc/34/50301.md?p=2) member shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. ## Source credit (Pub. L. 110–298, title I, § 103, July 31, 2008, 122 Stat. 2987.) ## Notes ### Editorial Notes ### Codification Section was formerly classified to section 15243 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.